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Dark Manor Chronicles #1
A Secret in the Garden
From USA Today bestselling author Jeneane O'Riley comes the first in a series of deliciously dark and whimsical standalone romances.
Some secrets were never meant to be unearthed.
Perched on a windswept cliff, Blackwood Manor looms like a dark monument to a mysterious family. Behind its grand iron gates, one part of the estate has been left to rot since the tragic death of Hester Blackwood: the once-glorious conservatory, now choked by vines and shattered glass. The rest of the family is gone—only her brooding son, Jasper, remains, the heir to a weapons empire.
Desperate to save her job and out of options, botanist Eliza Arnold makes a bold gamble—drive to the manor and beg the elusive millionaire for a donation. Jasper agrees...on one chilling condition: restore the conservatory. Alone. No help. No leaving.
But the manor is not empty.
As Eliza battles thorns and secrets, a magnetic tension builds between her and Jasper—dark, dangerous, and impossible to ignore. And something else stirs among the roots and ruins...whispers in the walls, confusing disturbances, and a presence watching her every move.
The deeper Eliza digs, the more she uncovers a garden of grief, longing…and desire. Because in Blackwood Manor, even buried things can bloom again.
Some secrets were never meant to be unearthed.
Perched on a windswept cliff, Blackwood Manor looms like a dark monument to a mysterious family. Behind its grand iron gates, one part of the estate has been left to rot since the tragic death of Hester Blackwood: the once-glorious conservatory, now choked by vines and shattered glass. The rest of the family is gone—only her brooding son, Jasper, remains, the heir to a weapons empire.
Desperate to save her job and out of options, botanist Eliza Arnold makes a bold gamble—drive to the manor and beg the elusive millionaire for a donation. Jasper agrees...on one chilling condition: restore the conservatory. Alone. No help. No leaving.
But the manor is not empty.
As Eliza battles thorns and secrets, a magnetic tension builds between her and Jasper—dark, dangerous, and impossible to ignore. And something else stirs among the roots and ruins...whispers in the walls, confusing disturbances, and a presence watching her every move.
The deeper Eliza digs, the more she uncovers a garden of grief, longing…and desire. Because in Blackwood Manor, even buried things can bloom again.
400 pages, Paperback
First published February 24, 2026
198 people are currently reading
23542 people want to read
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January 28, 2026
2/5
Thank you to NetGalley and Bloom Books for the e-arc!
Quite frankly I’m not even sure what was going on here. This book has so many elements that I adore but I was just very confused about the execution of said elements.
To start things off, Eliza is a bit too much of a pushover for too long for me. Her character growth near the end is lovely, but I just feel the way she interacts with Jasper was really unhealthy for too long. Why is he threatening to kill someone and you’re turned on? Why does the idea of him being a killer make you wet? She needed therapy IMMEDIATELY and I don’t think she had enough relationships either. She has jasper and his staff. No one else. Her sister is vaguely there, but they only call once before she shows up at the end (and we only see her say a few sentences of dialogue anyway). The relationship with her mom is very sad, but I was wondering where the hell her dad was 😭 Although I have so much sympathy for her as a character due to her trauma, I just feel she didn’t grow or have healthy ways of doing so. She needs therapy and friends outside of Jasper’s circle.
Jasper was too toxic for my tastes. I think a distinction needs to be made between morals we can have in fantasy settings and contemporary ones. In a fantasy setting, where death is perhaps frequent because a war is going on, I suppose I could understand why Jasper was so violent. But in a contemporary setting, he comes off as genuinely hostile in a way that is not attractive, and we never get a reason really. He felt abandoned by his parents his whole life. We’re told he was a drug dealer as a high schooler and just move past this??? He deals weapons and I’m confused as to why we would want to like a man who makes his money off of WARFARE? And then he has illegal weapons as well???????? Sorry but I fear I have too many morals to find Jasper in any way desirable. His development is nice enough but I think we glossed over too many issues 😅
The plot is cool at first (ghost!!!! Creepy house!) but it’s so surface level. Eliza doesn’t do a lot of investigative work. Jasper broods a lot. She gardens. Rinse and repeat. I wanted to maybe just see more of the world I guess? I felt like the story was so contained but the house lacked an atmosphere to justify why it had to take place here, if that makes sense. And for such a creepy house (or supposedly), it’s not Gothic. Find me screaming at a brick wall that a spooky aesthetic does NOT make something Gothic. You simply cannot just slap a ghost and possible murder into a house and say it’s Gothic.
I feel that the romance is an insta-lovey mess. Jasper is such a recluse but opens up so easily to Eliza. The attraction is instantaneous and a part of it just doesn’t feel authentic. So many times does Eliza say ‘it isn’t controllable, it’s fate, we can’t fight this’ etc which just seemed to me as making excuses for the lack of development they had. Although the smut was a slow burn to get to, I make the shocking argument that this book needed far more smut. In fact, maybe if they’d had sex earlier I would better understand their physcial attraction and chemistry. For the smut, on one hand, the scenes executions are all pretty hot. I appreciated the choreography of it. On the other hand, Jasper needed to shut the hell up. Someone gag him. Worst dirty talker on the planet. He was creeping me out 😭
My largest qualm with the novel though is the amount of inner monologues. Oh my gosh. I don’t know if I’ve read a book with more internal thoughts outside of classics and literary fiction. It was ridiculous how often Eliza and Jasper would think of the same things. So many pages were devoted to their thoughts and I wanted to break free.
The final reveal was a major letdown for me and I still don’t think any of the characters were justified in what they did. Wild how they caused Jasper so much trauma.
And despite the fact this book is the first in a series of interconnected standalones, we have no side characters for book 2. Literally NONE. If I had to place bets I’d say Callum might be book 2 simply because he’s mentioned once for no reason and never again and that had to mean something. Or I hope it did.
Overall, I found this book to just have poor execution for some very interesting plot points. I think I’d enjoy it more if it was full on fantasy, which I know this author’s other series is, so I think I’ll have more luck with those books!
Thank you to NetGalley and Bloom Books for the e-arc!
Quite frankly I’m not even sure what was going on here. This book has so many elements that I adore but I was just very confused about the execution of said elements.
To start things off, Eliza is a bit too much of a pushover for too long for me. Her character growth near the end is lovely, but I just feel the way she interacts with Jasper was really unhealthy for too long. Why is he threatening to kill someone and you’re turned on? Why does the idea of him being a killer make you wet? She needed therapy IMMEDIATELY and I don’t think she had enough relationships either. She has jasper and his staff. No one else. Her sister is vaguely there, but they only call once before she shows up at the end (and we only see her say a few sentences of dialogue anyway). The relationship with her mom is very sad, but I was wondering where the hell her dad was 😭 Although I have so much sympathy for her as a character due to her trauma, I just feel she didn’t grow or have healthy ways of doing so. She needs therapy and friends outside of Jasper’s circle.
Jasper was too toxic for my tastes. I think a distinction needs to be made between morals we can have in fantasy settings and contemporary ones. In a fantasy setting, where death is perhaps frequent because a war is going on, I suppose I could understand why Jasper was so violent. But in a contemporary setting, he comes off as genuinely hostile in a way that is not attractive, and we never get a reason really. He felt abandoned by his parents his whole life. We’re told he was a drug dealer as a high schooler and just move past this??? He deals weapons and I’m confused as to why we would want to like a man who makes his money off of WARFARE? And then he has illegal weapons as well???????? Sorry but I fear I have too many morals to find Jasper in any way desirable. His development is nice enough but I think we glossed over too many issues 😅
The plot is cool at first (ghost!!!! Creepy house!) but it’s so surface level. Eliza doesn’t do a lot of investigative work. Jasper broods a lot. She gardens. Rinse and repeat. I wanted to maybe just see more of the world I guess? I felt like the story was so contained but the house lacked an atmosphere to justify why it had to take place here, if that makes sense. And for such a creepy house (or supposedly), it’s not Gothic. Find me screaming at a brick wall that a spooky aesthetic does NOT make something Gothic. You simply cannot just slap a ghost and possible murder into a house and say it’s Gothic.
I feel that the romance is an insta-lovey mess. Jasper is such a recluse but opens up so easily to Eliza. The attraction is instantaneous and a part of it just doesn’t feel authentic. So many times does Eliza say ‘it isn’t controllable, it’s fate, we can’t fight this’ etc which just seemed to me as making excuses for the lack of development they had. Although the smut was a slow burn to get to, I make the shocking argument that this book needed far more smut. In fact, maybe if they’d had sex earlier I would better understand their physcial attraction and chemistry. For the smut, on one hand, the scenes executions are all pretty hot. I appreciated the choreography of it. On the other hand, Jasper needed to shut the hell up. Someone gag him. Worst dirty talker on the planet. He was creeping me out 😭
My largest qualm with the novel though is the amount of inner monologues. Oh my gosh. I don’t know if I’ve read a book with more internal thoughts outside of classics and literary fiction. It was ridiculous how often Eliza and Jasper would think of the same things. So many pages were devoted to their thoughts and I wanted to break free.
The final reveal was a major letdown for me and I still don’t think any of the characters were justified in what they did. Wild how they caused Jasper so much trauma.
And despite the fact this book is the first in a series of interconnected standalones, we have no side characters for book 2. Literally NONE. If I had to place bets I’d say Callum might be book 2 simply because he’s mentioned once for no reason and never again and that had to mean something. Or I hope it did.
Overall, I found this book to just have poor execution for some very interesting plot points. I think I’d enjoy it more if it was full on fantasy, which I know this author’s other series is, so I think I’ll have more luck with those books!
Read
February 27, 2026mmmm no thank u
February 19, 2026
I need to preface this review with I DNFed Jeneane O'Riley's Infatuated Fae series after book 2. I went into this book hoping that it was just that series I didn't click with, but it appears Jeneane O'Riley's writing just isn't for me. This will be the last book I read by this author.
📖 ARC Review 📖
🗓️ Release date: February 24, 2026
What to expect:
🥀 Dark gothic romance
🥀 1st person, single POV
🥀 Botanist x millionaire
🥀 Paranormal elements
🥀 Mystery & suspense
Spice rating: 🌶️🌶️
You're probably wondering, if I didn't like the Infatuated Fae series why would I ever pick this up? I actually fly through Jeneane O'Riley's books and finish them. Even though I DNFed Infatuated Fae, I still finished the two books. I find her writing digestible and the premise of her books interesting, I just don't resonate with her execution. They leave me feeling unsatisfied and conflicted, and I was hoping that wasn't going to be the case with this book.
The first 50% of this book actually had me invested because of the mystery. Things didn't feel overly predictable, and I love love love Jeneane O'Riley's scene descriptions. I could fully visualize the mansion, conservatory, and plants. I enjoyed the lush gothic undertone to her descriptions. I also like that she writes nerdy FMCs.
This is absolutely a personal preference, but I don't like that Jeneane O'Riley tends to hinge her character descriptions on a pop culture references. This happened in her Infatuated Fae series where she referenced Barbie and Calvin Klein models, and she did it again in this book with referencing Batman, Alfred (from Batman), and Damon Salvatore. These references pull me out of the story, and they also rely on the reader understanding those references to be meaningful.
There was a lot of telling versus showing with Jeneane O'Riley's character development. And sometimes what we were told conflicted with what we were shown. We are told numerous times how timid, quiet, and "invisible" our FMC can be, but time and time again she's not acting that way. Jeneane O’Riley may have been trying to show that our FMC was not acting like her normal self, but I found the execution confusing. Our MMC's character development is also wonky. He's unhinged yet soft at random times—it appears she was going for a Batman characterization, but it felt like she wasn't fully committing to it and it resulted in him becoming a disjointed character (in my opinion).
This also happened with Jeneane O'Riley's Infatuated Fae series, but I feel there are moments she includes in her books purely for shock value rather than to move the plot along in a meaningful way. I don't want to spoil anything, but this is in vague reference to some of the scenes with the locket and our MMC with the 🔫. To be clear, I really didn't like the 🔫 involving the FMC. Maybe I'm way too out of the dark romance space, but it felt extremely unnecessary and violent.
I was very meh about the romance, and I didn't really find their connection authentic/believable. When the slow burn finally started burning it felt like a blow torch. In short, it was an odd reading experience for me.
Honestly, the last 20% of this book really lost me. As I noted, I was fully into the mystery. BUT then it got to a point where I was like "oh no...is this going to be what I think it is." And it was. The ending left me so unsatisfied that I was disappointed she chose to wrap up the story that way. The mystery and resolution had SUCH potential.
Again, I'm fully calling myself out here that Jeneane O'Riley’s writing just isn't for me. However, I don't like when people are vague about why they don't like a writer's style and work, so I hope this long winded explanation was insightful.
A sincere thank you to Bloom Books for gifting me an ARC ahead of its pub date.
📖 ARC Review 📖
🗓️ Release date: February 24, 2026
What to expect:
🥀 Dark gothic romance
🥀 1st person, single POV
🥀 Botanist x millionaire
🥀 Paranormal elements
🥀 Mystery & suspense
Spice rating: 🌶️🌶️
You're probably wondering, if I didn't like the Infatuated Fae series why would I ever pick this up? I actually fly through Jeneane O'Riley's books and finish them. Even though I DNFed Infatuated Fae, I still finished the two books. I find her writing digestible and the premise of her books interesting, I just don't resonate with her execution. They leave me feeling unsatisfied and conflicted, and I was hoping that wasn't going to be the case with this book.
The first 50% of this book actually had me invested because of the mystery. Things didn't feel overly predictable, and I love love love Jeneane O'Riley's scene descriptions. I could fully visualize the mansion, conservatory, and plants. I enjoyed the lush gothic undertone to her descriptions. I also like that she writes nerdy FMCs.
This is absolutely a personal preference, but I don't like that Jeneane O'Riley tends to hinge her character descriptions on a pop culture references. This happened in her Infatuated Fae series where she referenced Barbie and Calvin Klein models, and she did it again in this book with referencing Batman, Alfred (from Batman), and Damon Salvatore. These references pull me out of the story, and they also rely on the reader understanding those references to be meaningful.
There was a lot of telling versus showing with Jeneane O'Riley's character development. And sometimes what we were told conflicted with what we were shown. We are told numerous times how timid, quiet, and "invisible" our FMC can be, but time and time again she's not acting that way. Jeneane O’Riley may have been trying to show that our FMC was not acting like her normal self, but I found the execution confusing. Our MMC's character development is also wonky. He's unhinged yet soft at random times—it appears she was going for a Batman characterization, but it felt like she wasn't fully committing to it and it resulted in him becoming a disjointed character (in my opinion).
This also happened with Jeneane O'Riley's Infatuated Fae series, but I feel there are moments she includes in her books purely for shock value rather than to move the plot along in a meaningful way. I don't want to spoil anything, but this is in vague reference to some of the scenes with the locket and our MMC with the 🔫. To be clear, I really didn't like the 🔫 involving the FMC. Maybe I'm way too out of the dark romance space, but it felt extremely unnecessary and violent.
I was very meh about the romance, and I didn't really find their connection authentic/believable. When the slow burn finally started burning it felt like a blow torch. In short, it was an odd reading experience for me.
Honestly, the last 20% of this book really lost me. As I noted, I was fully into the mystery. BUT then it got to a point where I was like "oh no...is this going to be what I think it is." And it was. The ending left me so unsatisfied that I was disappointed she chose to wrap up the story that way. The mystery and resolution had SUCH potential.
Again, I'm fully calling myself out here that Jeneane O'Riley’s writing just isn't for me. However, I don't like when people are vague about why they don't like a writer's style and work, so I hope this long winded explanation was insightful.
A sincere thank you to Bloom Books for gifting me an ARC ahead of its pub date.
February 8, 2026
Meet my latest five star read! If you’re craving a gothic romance with tension, steam, a murder mystery, and a heavy dash of the paranormal, this is the book you want to grab!
The banter, OMG, it’s so good. I was giggling one moment and cackling the next.
There’s also a central theme of family traumas and healing. How certain events from our youth impact our relationships and who we become as adults. It was thoughtfully explored.
Eliza has lived a pretty restrictive life due to her upbringing. Jasper brings this quality of excitement and danger that has her eager to face new experiences head on.
If you love the sound of:
-Botanist fmc
-Broody and closed off millionare mmc
-Mysterious manor with secrets
-Paranormal elements
-Healing together
-Incredible romance and banter
A Secret in the Garden is a must!
The banter, OMG, it’s so good. I was giggling one moment and cackling the next.
There’s also a central theme of family traumas and healing. How certain events from our youth impact our relationships and who we become as adults. It was thoughtfully explored.
Eliza has lived a pretty restrictive life due to her upbringing. Jasper brings this quality of excitement and danger that has her eager to face new experiences head on.
If you love the sound of:
-Botanist fmc
-Broody and closed off millionare mmc
-Mysterious manor with secrets
-Paranormal elements
-Healing together
-Incredible romance and banter
A Secret in the Garden is a must!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️✨️ - 4.5 stars
"She was fucking mine."
Review:
Well that was new. I have never cried because of plants before 🌿 lol.
I absolutely loved this gothic dark paranormal romance filled with suspense, mystery and a sizzling slow burn romance full of tension.❤️🔥
The FMC Sydney grew up with narcissistic parents and her mother in particular was truly the devil. She is a botanist who approaches Jasper the elusive millionaire owner of an old gothic estate hoping to restore his deceased mother’s conservatory while also seeking a donation.
Once Jasper agrees and Sydney begins working alone in the conservatory strange and unsettling things start to happen. There are secrets buried within the conservatory itself and they slowly begin to reveal themselves.
The story definitely played with my emotions. Her mother drove me completely crazy and there were moments when I honestly wished I could reach through the book and grab her. Later in the story I found myself wanting to do the same with Jasper but for very different reasons. 😉
This book had my full attention from beginning to end and I highly recommend it. 🙌🏼
- Standalone
- Gothic haunted manor
- Dark paranormal romance
- Slow-burn tension
- Forced proximity
- Dark secrets
- Mystery
- Broody millionaire x botanist
- Spice
I got this e-ARC from Bloom and NetGalley for free and leave this honest review voluntarily.
"She was fucking mine."
Review:
Well that was new. I have never cried because of plants before 🌿 lol.
I absolutely loved this gothic dark paranormal romance filled with suspense, mystery and a sizzling slow burn romance full of tension.❤️🔥
The FMC Sydney grew up with narcissistic parents and her mother in particular was truly the devil. She is a botanist who approaches Jasper the elusive millionaire owner of an old gothic estate hoping to restore his deceased mother’s conservatory while also seeking a donation.
Once Jasper agrees and Sydney begins working alone in the conservatory strange and unsettling things start to happen. There are secrets buried within the conservatory itself and they slowly begin to reveal themselves.
The story definitely played with my emotions. Her mother drove me completely crazy and there were moments when I honestly wished I could reach through the book and grab her. Later in the story I found myself wanting to do the same with Jasper but for very different reasons. 😉
This book had my full attention from beginning to end and I highly recommend it. 🙌🏼
- Standalone
- Gothic haunted manor
- Dark paranormal romance
- Slow-burn tension
- Forced proximity
- Dark secrets
- Mystery
- Broody millionaire x botanist
- Spice
I got this e-ARC from Bloom and NetGalley for free and leave this honest review voluntarily.
March 17, 2026
I honestly didn’t expect to enjoy this as much as I did, but it pulled me in from page one. The atmosphere is dark, haunting, and a little mysterious. This was my first time reading Jeneane O’Riley, and I had a really good time with it.
The setting alone was enough to hook me. An abandoned garden, a creepy gothic manor, and a reclusive, broody millionaire made such a good combo! The whole story had this eerie, immersive atmosphere that made it hard to stop reading. I felt like I was wandering through that eerie estate the whole time.
I also loved that Eliza is a STEM girlie. I’ll admit it took me a little while to warm up to her, but her character growth throughout the story was really satisfying. She’s smart, a little chaotic, and the way her unfiltered thoughts sometimes just slip out of her mouth was actually hilarious. Jasper was just as layered, and I found myself getting really invested in both of them.
The story balances romance, paranormal elements, mystery, and worldbuilding without feeling too heavy. Overall, this was such an atmospheric and enjoyable read.
WHAT YOU CAN EXPECT:
❤️🔥 Dark Gothic Romance
❤️🔥 Haunted Manor
❤️🔥 Broody Millionaire x Botanist
❤️🔥 Slow Burn
❤️🔥 Mystery & Suspense
❤️🔥 Close Proximity
The setting alone was enough to hook me. An abandoned garden, a creepy gothic manor, and a reclusive, broody millionaire made such a good combo! The whole story had this eerie, immersive atmosphere that made it hard to stop reading. I felt like I was wandering through that eerie estate the whole time.
I also loved that Eliza is a STEM girlie. I’ll admit it took me a little while to warm up to her, but her character growth throughout the story was really satisfying. She’s smart, a little chaotic, and the way her unfiltered thoughts sometimes just slip out of her mouth was actually hilarious. Jasper was just as layered, and I found myself getting really invested in both of them.
The story balances romance, paranormal elements, mystery, and worldbuilding without feeling too heavy. Overall, this was such an atmospheric and enjoyable read.
WHAT YOU CAN EXPECT:
❤️🔥 Dark Gothic Romance
❤️🔥 Haunted Manor
❤️🔥 Broody Millionaire x Botanist
❤️🔥 Slow Burn
❤️🔥 Mystery & Suspense
❤️🔥 Close Proximity
February 1, 2026
Perched on a lonely cliff, Blackwood Manor is a place where nothing truly stays buried. When desperate botanist Eliza Arnold arrives seeking help, she’s offered a dangerous bargain instead. Restore the ruined glass conservatory, alone and in silence, in exchange for everything she needs.Its brooding heir, Jasper Blackwood, is as closed off as the estate itself, yet something magnetic pulls them together as Eliza works among the choking vines and shattered glass. The deeper she digs, the more she uncovers not just the manor’s secrets, but a dark, aching connection between them.Because in Blackwood, grief, desire, and the past all grow wild…and even what’s been buried can still bloom.
A Secret in the Garden is pure gothic temptation with a decaying manor on a cliff, a shattered conservatory, restless spirits, and a love story tangled in grief and longing. Blackwood Manor feels haunted in every sense by ghosts, by secrets, by the people who never truly left and I always swoon for that kind of dark eerie, romantic atmosphere in a book. Told thru dual POV, we slip between FMC Eliza and MMC Jasper as they’re forced into close quarters, restoring a forgotten garden while something unseen watches from the shadows. The tension between them is slow and aching, threaded with jealousy, fear, and a pull neither of them can outrun. I loved how the mystery and the romance grow side by side, like vines creeping over cracked stone. That said, Eliza’s inner thoughts do circle the same doubts at times, which made parts of her emotional spiral feel repetitive. However the haunted setting, the ghostly presence, and the charged, forbidden attraction still kept me hooked. If you love gothic dark romance with unkept gardens, broken hearts, crumbling manors, and killer broody morally grey love interests this one is absolutely worth stepping into.
Thank you again NetGalley and Bloom Books for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
A Secret in the Garden is pure gothic temptation with a decaying manor on a cliff, a shattered conservatory, restless spirits, and a love story tangled in grief and longing. Blackwood Manor feels haunted in every sense by ghosts, by secrets, by the people who never truly left and I always swoon for that kind of dark eerie, romantic atmosphere in a book. Told thru dual POV, we slip between FMC Eliza and MMC Jasper as they’re forced into close quarters, restoring a forgotten garden while something unseen watches from the shadows. The tension between them is slow and aching, threaded with jealousy, fear, and a pull neither of them can outrun. I loved how the mystery and the romance grow side by side, like vines creeping over cracked stone. That said, Eliza’s inner thoughts do circle the same doubts at times, which made parts of her emotional spiral feel repetitive. However the haunted setting, the ghostly presence, and the charged, forbidden attraction still kept me hooked. If you love gothic dark romance with unkept gardens, broken hearts, crumbling manors, and killer broody morally grey love interests this one is absolutely worth stepping into.
Thank you again NetGalley and Bloom Books for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
February 11, 2026
honestly, this was fine. there’s nothing that really stuck out as bad to me. but i also had no feelings that really drew me towards it while reading it. i found it to be a bit predictable and wish it would have been a bit more mysterious but it had a lot of elements i really enjoy in a romantasy. it was really spicy, but it made sense in the story and wasn’t too much in my opinion. it was a fair amount of plot/spice. i do believe there were a few plot holes in this story or maybe just not fully fleshed out ideas/concepts. i also wasn’t a huge fan of eliza. she did turn around in the end and get better, but i really struggled with her for a while. however, i did enjoy the mmc, jasper! i did find this to be a little too instalove-y for my liking and was hoping for a bit more tension from this story. overall, it was a fun read but it doesn’t stand out to me.
February 17, 2026
nestled in between cliffs blackwood manner is home to the elusive jasper blackwood, a weapons and arms dealer who is rumored to have murdered his parents. enter eliza, a desperate and sheltered botanist who needs help to save her job. in order to do so, jasper has offered her a bargain: r move in for three month, and restore his conservatory in order to get everything she needs. as soon as she moves in eliza finds the manor is full of secrets she is determined to uncover. the only problem is the dangerous, magnetic pull she feels towards its owner.
oof… i am honestly so conflicted about how i feel about this book. at some points i was incredibly drawn in, other times i really just wanted the book to be over. there was just so much inner monologue that felt so repetitive and unnecessary. like yes, we know eliza has no backbone and is terrified by pretty much everything for a majority of the book. trust me no one thought otherwise.
now for the positives, it’s dual pov. and not just we get a few pages of jaspers pov and a majority eliza, it is pretty evenly distributed and i absolutely ate it up. on another note, jeneane o’riley is a woman who knows how to write smut and sexual tension. if you’ve read any of her previous work then you won’t be let down with any of the sexual tension or eventual steamy scenes. 🙂↕️
this is definitely a branch out from her previous series and she did do a pretty decent job with creating a world of gothic, paranormal mystery and intrigue. i will also say i love that this is a stand alone (which we absolutely need more of) and would be open to reading her next one.
𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘬 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘫𝘦𝘯𝘦𝘢𝘯𝘦 𝘰’𝘳𝘪𝘭𝘦𝘺, 𝘴𝘰𝘶𝘳𝘤𝘦𝘣𝘰𝘰𝘬𝘴/𝘣𝘭𝘰𝘰𝘮 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘯𝘦𝘵𝘨𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘦𝘺 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘢𝘯 𝘦-𝘢𝘳𝘤 𝘪𝘯 𝘦𝘹𝘤𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘨𝘦 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘢𝘯 𝘩𝘰𝘯𝘦𝘴𝘵 𝘳𝘦𝘷𝘪𝘦𝘸.
oof… i am honestly so conflicted about how i feel about this book. at some points i was incredibly drawn in, other times i really just wanted the book to be over. there was just so much inner monologue that felt so repetitive and unnecessary. like yes, we know eliza has no backbone and is terrified by pretty much everything for a majority of the book. trust me no one thought otherwise.
now for the positives, it’s dual pov. and not just we get a few pages of jaspers pov and a majority eliza, it is pretty evenly distributed and i absolutely ate it up. on another note, jeneane o’riley is a woman who knows how to write smut and sexual tension. if you’ve read any of her previous work then you won’t be let down with any of the sexual tension or eventual steamy scenes. 🙂↕️
this is definitely a branch out from her previous series and she did do a pretty decent job with creating a world of gothic, paranormal mystery and intrigue. i will also say i love that this is a stand alone (which we absolutely need more of) and would be open to reading her next one.
𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘬 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘫𝘦𝘯𝘦𝘢𝘯𝘦 𝘰’𝘳𝘪𝘭𝘦𝘺, 𝘴𝘰𝘶𝘳𝘤𝘦𝘣𝘰𝘰𝘬𝘴/𝘣𝘭𝘰𝘰𝘮 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘯𝘦𝘵𝘨𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘦𝘺 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘢𝘯 𝘦-𝘢𝘳𝘤 𝘪𝘯 𝘦𝘹𝘤𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘨𝘦 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘢𝘯 𝘩𝘰𝘯𝘦𝘴𝘵 𝘳𝘦𝘷𝘪𝘦𝘸.
January 1, 2026
3.75 ⭐️ rounded up.
Thank you to NetGalley and Bloom Books for providing me with this ARC. The book will be released February 24, 2026! All opinions are my own.
This is Jeneane O’Riley’s venture into the world of romance without the fantasy. She doesn’t leave us hanging though, introducing elements of gothic settings, ghostly hauntings and morally grey parricidal main love interests to the mix. A Secret in the Garden gives us another taste of Jeneane‘s amazing writing style in a deliciously new and dangerous setting.
Eliza Arnold is the botanist willing to sacrifice her dignity and possibly her life to go up to Blackwood Manor and ask the reclusive and possibly murderous Jasper Blackwood for access to his conservatory. To her surprise, he accepts, with the caveat that she is the only one that can work on it and that she has to move into the manor to do so. As she begins to bring the dilapidated conservatory back to life, she is haunted by Jasper’s mother and makes it her mission to discover the truth behind the rumors of his parents’ murders. As she gets closer to his family’s secrets, she finds herself getting closer to the man himself. Perhaps the two of them are more alike than she first realized.
Both Eliza and Jasper come in with extremely troubled pasts and poor parent relationships that have molded the kind of people they are as adults. Eliza, abused and put down, is a people pleaser while Jasper, abandoned, is closed off and cold. They needed each other to break out of the prisons they and their parents have created over the years but it took A LOT to get there. Eliza is constantly doubting herself at every turn in the book, sometimes from one sentence to the next (the whiplash!). It looks like she is making progress but then she regresses again (this applies both to the solving the mystery and healing herself). Jasper on the other hand, remains pretty aloof until suddenly we are hit with the full force of his obsession that’s been quietly seething in the background. For the spice and the romance, for you slow burn lovers out there, I’d say this book definitely pulls it out, drawing out their tension until at least the 75% mark.
The ghostly/gothic/haunting elements were an interesting touch and something I think this author excels at. Her writing captured the atmosphere of the dark manor with its mysterious owner so well and all the haunting moments had me on the edge of my seat. I wish I had read this in the fall for the perfect ambience. The mystery itself was woven into the story so well and it kept it going through the parts where Eliza’s indecisiveness was repetitive. The ending was surprising and emotional, and showed me that without even realizing it, I had become invested in the Blackwood family.
Like with her Infatuated Fae series, I am impressed by the way Jeneane is able to weave a story and hide her intentions from the reader until she’s ready for you to know the full picture but not in an annoying way where you are left with open ended questions for the whole book that grate on you. This book is definitely not as “action packed” and has a more deliberate pacing, but for those looking for a darker setting with a bit of mystery and a slow burn romance, this will hit the spot. Side note, why is she so damn smart…mind blown.
Themes:
Slowburn
Touch her and die
Gothic Haunted Manor Mystery (is this a theme?)
Quotes to tempt you:
He was everything the house was—dark, distant, brooding, and horrifying, covered up with a beautifully expensive varnish.
Our trauma had broken us so deeply that we were able to see each other through our cracks.
Dreams are only coveted because you have to face reality for a while to truly appreciate them.
Thank you to NetGalley and Bloom Books for providing me with this ARC. The book will be released February 24, 2026! All opinions are my own.
This is Jeneane O’Riley’s venture into the world of romance without the fantasy. She doesn’t leave us hanging though, introducing elements of gothic settings, ghostly hauntings and morally grey parricidal main love interests to the mix. A Secret in the Garden gives us another taste of Jeneane‘s amazing writing style in a deliciously new and dangerous setting.
Eliza Arnold is the botanist willing to sacrifice her dignity and possibly her life to go up to Blackwood Manor and ask the reclusive and possibly murderous Jasper Blackwood for access to his conservatory. To her surprise, he accepts, with the caveat that she is the only one that can work on it and that she has to move into the manor to do so. As she begins to bring the dilapidated conservatory back to life, she is haunted by Jasper’s mother and makes it her mission to discover the truth behind the rumors of his parents’ murders. As she gets closer to his family’s secrets, she finds herself getting closer to the man himself. Perhaps the two of them are more alike than she first realized.
Both Eliza and Jasper come in with extremely troubled pasts and poor parent relationships that have molded the kind of people they are as adults. Eliza, abused and put down, is a people pleaser while Jasper, abandoned, is closed off and cold. They needed each other to break out of the prisons they and their parents have created over the years but it took A LOT to get there. Eliza is constantly doubting herself at every turn in the book, sometimes from one sentence to the next (the whiplash!). It looks like she is making progress but then she regresses again (this applies both to the solving the mystery and healing herself). Jasper on the other hand, remains pretty aloof until suddenly we are hit with the full force of his obsession that’s been quietly seething in the background. For the spice and the romance, for you slow burn lovers out there, I’d say this book definitely pulls it out, drawing out their tension until at least the 75% mark.
The ghostly/gothic/haunting elements were an interesting touch and something I think this author excels at. Her writing captured the atmosphere of the dark manor with its mysterious owner so well and all the haunting moments had me on the edge of my seat. I wish I had read this in the fall for the perfect ambience. The mystery itself was woven into the story so well and it kept it going through the parts where Eliza’s indecisiveness was repetitive. The ending was surprising and emotional, and showed me that without even realizing it, I had become invested in the Blackwood family.
Like with her Infatuated Fae series, I am impressed by the way Jeneane is able to weave a story and hide her intentions from the reader until she’s ready for you to know the full picture but not in an annoying way where you are left with open ended questions for the whole book that grate on you. This book is definitely not as “action packed” and has a more deliberate pacing, but for those looking for a darker setting with a bit of mystery and a slow burn romance, this will hit the spot. Side note, why is she so damn smart…mind blown.
Themes:
Slowburn
Touch her and die
Gothic Haunted Manor Mystery (is this a theme?)
Quotes to tempt you:
He was everything the house was—dark, distant, brooding, and horrifying, covered up with a beautifully expensive varnish.
Our trauma had broken us so deeply that we were able to see each other through our cracks.
Dreams are only coveted because you have to face reality for a while to truly appreciate them.
February 26, 2026
It’s a small miracle I finished this book. I was tempted to drop it so many times.
The premise was promising: a gothic romance with a ghost and a deadly mystery. Unfortunately, much like the characters themselves, this plot fell flat.
By about halfway, I already somewhat knew this wasn't going to be what I hoped. But I pushed through, hoping the latter half would prove me wrong. It did not.
The spice was alright. The romance, however, just didn't quite hit the right note. I didn't believe it. Lust? Sure. Love? Eh...
I didn't realize until after I requested this book that I'd purposely avoided the author's previous work for some reason. After this book, I think I can say with some confidence that I do not think I am missing out much.
Also, the ending? So lackluster. It made me question why I bothered with this in the first place.
Thank you to NetGalley and Bloom Books for providing me with an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
The premise was promising: a gothic romance with a ghost and a deadly mystery. Unfortunately, much like the characters themselves, this plot fell flat.
By about halfway, I already somewhat knew this wasn't going to be what I hoped. But I pushed through, hoping the latter half would prove me wrong. It did not.
The spice was alright. The romance, however, just didn't quite hit the right note. I didn't believe it. Lust? Sure. Love? Eh...
I didn't realize until after I requested this book that I'd purposely avoided the author's previous work for some reason. After this book, I think I can say with some confidence that I do not think I am missing out much.
Also, the ending? So lackluster. It made me question why I bothered with this in the first place.
Thank you to NetGalley and Bloom Books for providing me with an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Thank you to netgalley for the ARC of this book!
I enjoyed reading this book. It definitely drew me in and kept me captivated. I did feel like some things were rather quick in developing. I liked Eliza a lot. Jasper came off a little childish occasionally, but I imagine that could do with his upbringing. Overall, I really like it! This is the first book I've read from Jeneane O'Riley, and I look forward to checking out more.
I enjoyed reading this book. It definitely drew me in and kept me captivated. I did feel like some things were rather quick in developing. I liked Eliza a lot. Jasper came off a little childish occasionally, but I imagine that could do with his upbringing. Overall, I really like it! This is the first book I've read from Jeneane O'Riley, and I look forward to checking out more.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
A Secret in the Garden promises a consuming, addictive love story woven with haunting supernatural that beckons for a mystery to be solved in the wake of years long buried secrets. It's a work to entrance, and I hope that's what you find within this pages.
In this work , we follow Eliza and Jasper. Eliza is a botanist at Pinehurst Botanical Gardens, who is desperate to have elusive (and potentially murderous) millionaire Jasper donate a sizable fund to her workplace in return to restore his years-long decaying conservatory. Jasper turns her bargain around with a catch, to receive the fund, she must restore the conservatory on her own, while living full time at this home. Eliza certainly doesn't count on catching feelings...or ghosts.
I really enjoyed the beginning of this work! I was pulled into the eeriness of the mansion Eliza walks into to. I was intrigued by the potentially murderous Jasper, and beyond all else, compelled by the ghostly woman in red who began to haunt Eliza. So many great pieces of potential are there, and they do serve to make for an engaging read from beginning to end, but unfortunately, they are pieces they never quite fit seamlessly.
I appreciate the work for what it is, and certainly found moments quite compelling and fascinating. All the light supernatural elements 100% were gripping. Where I falter was in liking our heroine Eliza. Her quick judgement early on against Jasper dragged a touch too long for my own preference. I felt more frustrated than understanding, and it was feeling that lasted for length period, dampening how I viewed the romance. It lessened its impact.
So, I can't say this work was my cup of tea, but I can say I am so glad I tried it out! I am absolutely happy to have read this one and I do think many will find much to enjoy. What may not work for me, can absolutely work for you! That's the beauty of reading. So don't let my own hurdles become yours, take the leap and I hope you enjoy this work!
Thank you kindly to Blooms Books and NetGalley for this complimentary eARC, I leave this review voluntarily.
_____
original post-read quick thoughts
Hmmmm. Maybe a generous 3.5? I did quite enjoy the writing style and the supernatural element along with the mystery it weaved, but I struggled liking the heroine. Her actions and judgement served more frustration than understanding. And that put a damper on any romance.
Dark romance isn’t the best fit for me, but I keep reading it thinking maybe I’ll find that perfect fit one day. Haven’t reached there yet, but I really hope this is a book that fits perfectly to others! I’m glad I gave this one a shot and found things to enjoy from it.
Full review to come!
In this work , we follow Eliza and Jasper. Eliza is a botanist at Pinehurst Botanical Gardens, who is desperate to have elusive (and potentially murderous) millionaire Jasper donate a sizable fund to her workplace in return to restore his years-long decaying conservatory. Jasper turns her bargain around with a catch, to receive the fund, she must restore the conservatory on her own, while living full time at this home. Eliza certainly doesn't count on catching feelings...or ghosts.
I really enjoyed the beginning of this work! I was pulled into the eeriness of the mansion Eliza walks into to. I was intrigued by the potentially murderous Jasper, and beyond all else, compelled by the ghostly woman in red who began to haunt Eliza. So many great pieces of potential are there, and they do serve to make for an engaging read from beginning to end, but unfortunately, they are pieces they never quite fit seamlessly.
I appreciate the work for what it is, and certainly found moments quite compelling and fascinating. All the light supernatural elements 100% were gripping. Where I falter was in liking our heroine Eliza. Her quick judgement early on against Jasper dragged a touch too long for my own preference. I felt more frustrated than understanding, and it was feeling that lasted for length period, dampening how I viewed the romance. It lessened its impact.
So, I can't say this work was my cup of tea, but I can say I am so glad I tried it out! I am absolutely happy to have read this one and I do think many will find much to enjoy. What may not work for me, can absolutely work for you! That's the beauty of reading. So don't let my own hurdles become yours, take the leap and I hope you enjoy this work!
Thank you kindly to Blooms Books and NetGalley for this complimentary eARC, I leave this review voluntarily.
_____
original post-read quick thoughts
Hmmmm. Maybe a generous 3.5? I did quite enjoy the writing style and the supernatural element along with the mystery it weaved, but I struggled liking the heroine. Her actions and judgement served more frustration than understanding. And that put a damper on any romance.
Dark romance isn’t the best fit for me, but I keep reading it thinking maybe I’ll find that perfect fit one day. Haven’t reached there yet, but I really hope this is a book that fits perfectly to others! I’m glad I gave this one a shot and found things to enjoy from it.
Full review to come!
Read
March 14, 2026This was such a beautifully moody gothic romance! It's a bit like Beauty & the Beast meets The Secret Garden but sprinkle in some spice!
Blackwood Manor feels like its own character with the crumbling conservatory, overgrown beds, and the constant feeling that something is lurking beneath the surface.
I really enjoyed following Eliza as she works to restore the garden while uncovering the secrets buried within the estate. The mystery, ghostly elements, and the emotional history tied to the manor kept me hooked the whole time. Eliza struggles to overcome her own emotional trauma and while her inner monologue felt a bit repetitive in a few places, Jasper was there to help pull her out of her head. Jasper was a bit much imo, but he exudes that 'touch her and die' energy. The forced proximity and slow burn added some lovely tension to this already moody read.
Overall, a delightful gothic romance with a creepy mystery and secrets galore. It's definitely worth adding to your TBR.
Thank you to NetGalley and Bloom Books for providing me with this ARC.
Blackwood Manor feels like its own character with the crumbling conservatory, overgrown beds, and the constant feeling that something is lurking beneath the surface.
I really enjoyed following Eliza as she works to restore the garden while uncovering the secrets buried within the estate. The mystery, ghostly elements, and the emotional history tied to the manor kept me hooked the whole time. Eliza struggles to overcome her own emotional trauma and while her inner monologue felt a bit repetitive in a few places, Jasper was there to help pull her out of her head. Jasper was a bit much imo, but he exudes that 'touch her and die' energy. The forced proximity and slow burn added some lovely tension to this already moody read.
Overall, a delightful gothic romance with a creepy mystery and secrets galore. It's definitely worth adding to your TBR.
Thank you to NetGalley and Bloom Books for providing me with this ARC.
March 2, 2026
This book did such a great job in creating a dark gothic vibe in a modern time period without it being too disjointed.
I think a more sinister cause of death would have been better suited, the tameness made the ending fall a little flat.
But goodness, the mouth on this man was just delicious.
I think a more sinister cause of death would have been better suited, the tameness made the ending fall a little flat.
But goodness, the mouth on this man was just delicious.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 14, 2025
I don't know how I am going to move on from this story.
I am in love with everything about this. I am so beyond blessed to have gotten an ARC copy from Netgalley, and I cannot wait to have the physical copy in my hands in just a short few months.
Everything about this was beautiful, and I swear she cant write a bad book. I couldn't recommend this more, and hope that everyone picks this up when it comes out.
I am in love with everything about this. I am so beyond blessed to have gotten an ARC copy from Netgalley, and I cannot wait to have the physical copy in my hands in just a short few months.
Everything about this was beautiful, and I swear she cant write a bad book. I couldn't recommend this more, and hope that everyone picks this up when it comes out.
January 17, 2026
First off, thank you to Jeneane O'Riley and Bloom (Sourcebooks) for the advanced reader's copy of "A Secret in the Garden" via NetGalley. This book will be published on February 24, 2026.
I have met Jeneane twice now (SHE IS THE SWEETEST) and had yet to read one of her books. When I saw this book on NetGalley, I knew I needed to read it! When I say that this book was right up my alley, I mean it!!!
A dark, gothic, romantic suspense with so many mysteries and a touch of haunting - this book had me at the edge of my seat while swooning for the slow burn!!!
This book follows Eliza Arnold (FMC), a young botanist who is trying to save her job, and Jasper Blackwood (MMC), a rumored murdered, who owns a weapons empire and also owns Blackwood Manor. Eliza has been determined to get into the Blackwood Manor conservatory to restore the rumored super rare plants that it contains. Jasper is apprehensive to let anyone into his home, but once he agrees to let Eliza and only Eliza in, a ghost appears to her. As she starts to unravel Blackwood Manors secrets, she also starts to fall for the man who is such a mystery to her. What secrets do the walls of the manor hold and will Eliza figure them out?
Jasper may be my perfect book boyfriend. He's mysterious, tall, brooding, a millionaire, and soooo protective of the one's he loves. He's also a little morally gray and we love that too.
I loved the references to Batman & Alfred. I loved the descriptive nature of the plants and the view from the manor. There were many other parts I loved, but I don't want to reveal any spoilers (cough cough** the locket ** cough cough).
This is my first 5 star read of the year! The slow burn was PERFECTION, the yearn was SUBLIME, and I didn't want the story to end.
This book is a romance, a mystery, a fantasy, and A MUST READ. I'm already anticipating the 2nd book in the Dark Manor Chronicles!!
I have met Jeneane twice now (SHE IS THE SWEETEST) and had yet to read one of her books. When I saw this book on NetGalley, I knew I needed to read it! When I say that this book was right up my alley, I mean it!!!
A dark, gothic, romantic suspense with so many mysteries and a touch of haunting - this book had me at the edge of my seat while swooning for the slow burn!!!
This book follows Eliza Arnold (FMC), a young botanist who is trying to save her job, and Jasper Blackwood (MMC), a rumored murdered, who owns a weapons empire and also owns Blackwood Manor. Eliza has been determined to get into the Blackwood Manor conservatory to restore the rumored super rare plants that it contains. Jasper is apprehensive to let anyone into his home, but once he agrees to let Eliza and only Eliza in, a ghost appears to her. As she starts to unravel Blackwood Manors secrets, she also starts to fall for the man who is such a mystery to her. What secrets do the walls of the manor hold and will Eliza figure them out?
Jasper may be my perfect book boyfriend. He's mysterious, tall, brooding, a millionaire, and soooo protective of the one's he loves. He's also a little morally gray and we love that too.
I loved the references to Batman & Alfred. I loved the descriptive nature of the plants and the view from the manor. There were many other parts I loved, but I don't want to reveal any spoilers (cough cough** the locket ** cough cough).
This is my first 5 star read of the year! The slow burn was PERFECTION, the yearn was SUBLIME, and I didn't want the story to end.
This book is a romance, a mystery, a fantasy, and A MUST READ. I'm already anticipating the 2nd book in the Dark Manor Chronicles!!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
a 4.5 star read
Thank you Netgalley for this arc, all opinions are my own.
Mysterious dark gothic paranormal romance story that was beautifully written. A love story that doesn't start as a love story but self growth and worth that ends in a love story.
A botanist, Eliza, is trying to save her job when funding is cut at her job so she goes to the mysterious Blackwood Manor to meet the elusive Jasper Blackwood to help rehabilitate the conservatory that housed beautiful exotic and some endangered plants and flowers. She's put on a time frame to fix the entire thing by herself and if she does maybe she can save her job. Jasper tried to stay away being the ever so mysterious man the media claims he is... until he can't stay away. With rumors going around that he killed his parents and deals in illegal activity, Eliza takes it up on herself to get to the bottom of it. While she's working on the garden she finds a mysterious locket. This locket holds many secrets which includes letting her see a wispy looking ghost who Eliza can only see. Eliza can't tell if the ghost is trying to help or hinder her giving her clues and mysterious things inside the locket. With interesting plots and an edge of danger and mystery I couldn't stop reading. I absolutely loved this story. There is romance and spice in the story however it is not the main point of the story. It is a side story that doesn't make the story as the plot is the best thing. It kept me entertained with vivid imagery. I've never been one to look at plants and flowers and think anything more than oh that's pretty but this story had me loving the flowers and plants depicted. A must read book that I can't wait to have my hands on the physical copy. Spice level for me 1.25/5.
There are heavier topics mentioned in this story that should be looked at before reading.
With the tropes of slow burn, forced proximity, standalone, billionaire romance, and self discovery.
Thank you Netgalley for this arc, all opinions are my own.
Mysterious dark gothic paranormal romance story that was beautifully written. A love story that doesn't start as a love story but self growth and worth that ends in a love story.
A botanist, Eliza, is trying to save her job when funding is cut at her job so she goes to the mysterious Blackwood Manor to meet the elusive Jasper Blackwood to help rehabilitate the conservatory that housed beautiful exotic and some endangered plants and flowers. She's put on a time frame to fix the entire thing by herself and if she does maybe she can save her job. Jasper tried to stay away being the ever so mysterious man the media claims he is... until he can't stay away. With rumors going around that he killed his parents and deals in illegal activity, Eliza takes it up on herself to get to the bottom of it. While she's working on the garden she finds a mysterious locket. This locket holds many secrets which includes letting her see a wispy looking ghost who Eliza can only see. Eliza can't tell if the ghost is trying to help or hinder her giving her clues and mysterious things inside the locket. With interesting plots and an edge of danger and mystery I couldn't stop reading. I absolutely loved this story. There is romance and spice in the story however it is not the main point of the story. It is a side story that doesn't make the story as the plot is the best thing. It kept me entertained with vivid imagery. I've never been one to look at plants and flowers and think anything more than oh that's pretty but this story had me loving the flowers and plants depicted. A must read book that I can't wait to have my hands on the physical copy. Spice level for me 1.25/5.
There are heavier topics mentioned in this story that should be looked at before reading.
With the tropes of slow burn, forced proximity, standalone, billionaire romance, and self discovery.
December 30, 2025
I was pleasantly surprised! This one sucked me in from page 1. It was dark and has a gripping mystery that had me guessing until the end. The romance was palpable between the two main characters. We meet Eliza a timid botanist looking for a way to save her job. She meets Jasper the owner/billionaire of the Blackwood Manor. He has a conservatory that is in disrepair full of exotic plants that has caught Eliza and her place of work attention. She ends up offering her services and Jasper obliges. Once she starts the twist and turn start. It’s spooky, haunting and kept me guessing like I mention earlier. The story wraps with a sweet little bow in a way I didn’t expect. This one is also pretty spicy 🌶️ for those who are curious. If you enjoy dark romance, murder mystery, “mine” and billionaire MMC then I highly recommend this one.
March 10, 2026
4 ⭐️
2 🌶️
This was my first read by Jeneane O’Riley and I had a good time reading this paranormal romance. I loved the concept of the abandoned garden since I was such a big fan of The Secret Garden movie growing up! Add in the haunted gothic manor and reclusive, broody millionaire and it makes for an enjoyable read in my opinion!
I loved the mystery aspect and the STEM FMC. I’m glad her character had some growth throughout the story. I struggled early on to relate to her but her character arc was well done and rewarding in the end.
Overall, this was an enjoyable standalone read for fans of romance with gothic and paranormal vibes.
2 🌶️
This was my first read by Jeneane O’Riley and I had a good time reading this paranormal romance. I loved the concept of the abandoned garden since I was such a big fan of The Secret Garden movie growing up! Add in the haunted gothic manor and reclusive, broody millionaire and it makes for an enjoyable read in my opinion!
I loved the mystery aspect and the STEM FMC. I’m glad her character had some growth throughout the story. I struggled early on to relate to her but her character arc was well done and rewarding in the end.
Overall, this was an enjoyable standalone read for fans of romance with gothic and paranormal vibes.
February 7, 2026
Suspenseful and intriguing, the backdrop of a decaying garden sets the tone for Jeneane’s journey into this new sub-genre of gothic suspense. While the goal was to revitalize Blackwood Manor’s garden for her own career gain, Eliza quickly realizes that she may have bitten off more than she can chew. The presence of Jasper Blackwood is unnerving, but that’s not the only worrisome presence in the garden.
I loved Eliza’s character and the way she showed her vulnerable side despite her past experiences. Jasper’s dark and mysterious persona creates another layer of suspense for the reader. And the romance between Eliza & Jasper will definitely satisfy readers of Jeneane’s previous works!
Thank you Jeneane O’Riley, Bloom, and Netgalley for the ARC!
I loved Eliza’s character and the way she showed her vulnerable side despite her past experiences. Jasper’s dark and mysterious persona creates another layer of suspense for the reader. And the romance between Eliza & Jasper will definitely satisfy readers of Jeneane’s previous works!
Thank you Jeneane O’Riley, Bloom, and Netgalley for the ARC!
March 3, 2026
4.5⭐️
December 17, 2025
This is a 6 star read for me! Wow wow wow wow! I got an arc through netgalley and so grateful for it! I was scared to start it because I knew I was going to fall in love with this gothic romance immediately, and fell is exactly what happened!
I absolutely LOVED this book and it’s one I won’t be able to stop thinking about! It was so beautifully written and the connection Eliza and jasper have is *chefs kiss*
I cannot wait to see where the series goes and this book hasn’t been released yet!
I absolutely LOVED this book and it’s one I won’t be able to stop thinking about! It was so beautifully written and the connection Eliza and jasper have is *chefs kiss*
I cannot wait to see where the series goes and this book hasn’t been released yet!
November 18, 2025
First, I must say thank you to Jeneane for personally sending me an arc, complete with a handwritten note. At the risk of sounding cliche and a bit corny, your books have irrevocably changed my life. They have awoken an old and long forgotten love for writing, a love I thought was snuffed out by one of those enemies cloaked in white robes (😉).
Since the moment I got my hands on this beauty of a story, I found myself in a war between my head and my heart to slow down and cherish the story and wanting to engulf the book in one sitting. It was so beautifully written that I genuinely wondered when Jeneane had time to watch the show that is my life and somehow capture perfectly the kind of relationship I have with my mother with Eliza and her own mother. There were whole paragraphs of inner monologue that a lot of young women, myself included, have had when they were raised by their first bully. A less healed version of myself may have been triggered at some of Eliza’s mother’s dialogue, and the decently healed version of myself is so grateful for how their relationship was portrayed in the end.
Now onto the more fun part of the story… Jasper MF Blackwell. Though Daddy Mendax will probably always have my heart, Jasper did give him a run for his money. As much as I love a true villain like Mendax, I do truly love a man that yearns and is willing to change for the woman of his dreams. The banter between Eliza and Jasper was absolutely delish and the tension was palpable. I would be lying if I said I wasn’t giggling and kicking my feet like a schoolgirl much to my husband’s annoyance. (Don’t worry, he wasn’t annoyed once he reaped the benefits).
Speaking of, the spice was worth the wait. That’s all I will say about that.
And as if this love story wasn’t already amazing on its own, the added little murder mystery that was happening definitely kept me on my toes. And in true Jeneane O’Riley fashion, I did not see some of the plot twist coming. Like Hester becoming of my favorite characters.
Without going into any true spoilers, all in all, this was another beautiful work of art that I’m so happy I got to experience. I can’t wait for you all to be able to get your hands on this
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
(Audio courtesy of Sourcebooks Audio/Bloom Books and NetGalley.)
3⭐
This isn’t a bad read by any stretch, and I don’t regret my time with it, but it ultimately lands in the middle of the road.
Yes, it's a little predictable, but it's also a lot sexy? And sexy in a way that really fits the narrative. In a world of mismatched plot/sex, there's value in a romance with thematically on-point spice. And there were a couple of other things I thought were well done, as well. The ghost interactions, for one. They were thoughtful and added some needed depth to the story. And the accompanying playlist at the beginning? Some great tracks!
I also appreciated the depiction of trauma and the care put into it. The MMC is vilified and isolated from a young age because everyone suspects him of his mother's murder, and the FMC has to deal with her mother's narcissistic personality and the effect it has on her life.
Speaking of trauma... I do want to address the author's use of trigger warnings at the beginning of the book.
While I genuinely appreciate the intention behind trigger warnings, I think execution matters a great deal. My personal preference is that I’m allowed to curate my own safe spaces, even as someone who has a nervous system like a livewire and debilitating triggers. I’d much rather seek out content awareness through reviews or a dedicated section on the author’s or publisher's website, rather than having trigger warnings placed unavoidably front and center.
When trigger warnings are presented this way, they can have the unintended consequence of preventing readers from easing into a story and building trust before difficult content emerges organically. Blunt, context-free warnings can backfire for an anxious mind, putting the reader on high alert rather than allowing tension to build naturally.
I recognize this is a personal preference, not a universal rule. We’re all bringing our own histories and nervous systems to the media we consume. In this case, regardless of whether the trigger warnings were helpful, neutral, or counterproductive, they proved to be spoiler-y, which is a cardinal sin for me.
/end trigger warning pontification
Finally, let's talk continuity errors, because there were a couple that legit interfered with my enjoyment of the narrative. Let’s go, spoiler tag!
It feels genuinely sloppy.
Audio-Specific 🎧: 13 Hours, 30 Minutes, narrators Alex Picard and Ian Bedford both do a really great job. Picard is particularly good at depicting distress. This is either a recommendation or a warning, because she really goes hard with her visceral performance. Personally it was a challenge to listen to, but obviously she did her job and she did it well.
📌 TL;DR: Not mid as shorthand for ‘worst thing to ever be written.’ Just mid-mid.
3⭐
This isn’t a bad read by any stretch, and I don’t regret my time with it, but it ultimately lands in the middle of the road.
Yes, it's a little predictable, but it's also a lot sexy? And sexy in a way that really fits the narrative. In a world of mismatched plot/sex, there's value in a romance with thematically on-point spice. And there were a couple of other things I thought were well done, as well. The ghost interactions, for one. They were thoughtful and added some needed depth to the story. And the accompanying playlist at the beginning? Some great tracks!
I also appreciated the depiction of trauma and the care put into it. The MMC is vilified and isolated from a young age because everyone suspects him of his mother's murder, and the FMC has to deal with her mother's narcissistic personality and the effect it has on her life.
Speaking of trauma... I do want to address the author's use of trigger warnings at the beginning of the book.
While I genuinely appreciate the intention behind trigger warnings, I think execution matters a great deal. My personal preference is that I’m allowed to curate my own safe spaces, even as someone who has a nervous system like a livewire and debilitating triggers. I’d much rather seek out content awareness through reviews or a dedicated section on the author’s or publisher's website, rather than having trigger warnings placed unavoidably front and center.
When trigger warnings are presented this way, they can have the unintended consequence of preventing readers from easing into a story and building trust before difficult content emerges organically. Blunt, context-free warnings can backfire for an anxious mind, putting the reader on high alert rather than allowing tension to build naturally.
I recognize this is a personal preference, not a universal rule. We’re all bringing our own histories and nervous systems to the media we consume. In this case, regardless of whether the trigger warnings were helpful, neutral, or counterproductive, they proved to be spoiler-y, which is a cardinal sin for me.
/end trigger warning pontification
Finally, let's talk continuity errors, because there were a couple that legit interfered with my enjoyment of the narrative. Let’s go, spoiler tag!
It feels genuinely sloppy.
Audio-Specific 🎧: 13 Hours, 30 Minutes, narrators Alex Picard and Ian Bedford both do a really great job. Picard is particularly good at depicting distress. This is either a recommendation or a warning, because she really goes hard with her visceral performance. Personally it was a challenge to listen to, but obviously she did her job and she did it well.
📌 TL;DR: Not mid as shorthand for ‘worst thing to ever be written.’ Just mid-mid.
February 25, 2026
Thank you to NetGalley, SourceBooks, and Ms. O'Riley for the opportunity to read an ARC of this title. An honest review was requested but not required.
I really liked the gothic overtones of this book: the setting high on a cliff, isolated in a rundown mansion, with only a few people in the house. Very Beauty and the Beast. The crumbling conservatory full of dead and dying plants was even better. I liked the idea that Eliza bartered her "freedom" to live in the mansion and renovate the conservatory; I loved the ghost she encounters amidst the dead plants; I loved the spooky vibe and the grouchy hot guy to go along with it.
Unfortunately the excellent setup sort of petered out. Jasper oh-so-quickly falls in lust with his live-in-botanist, but it felt very situational and not much like a legitimate connection. Even worse, Eliza's upbringing registered borderline cult-like; her mom literally regularly shows up at her apartment to go through her trash and ensure that she's only using approved products. Violations of her mom's policies result in a week of isolation in a cabin in the wild, "in communion with the Earth". UGH. I mean, there's being earth-friendly and there's being unhinged. I truly don't know how Eliza emerged into functional adulthood, and I can't imagine any prospective partner not having SERIOUS reluctance about taking Eliza on, if it means her mom comes too. But I digress. The promising ghost situation, and the creepy locket, sort of fizzle away. The relationship between Jasper and Eliza is hot, but shallow. I never really felt a true connection nor solid chemistry between them. Honestly I was more curious about Eliza's sister the whole time.
Solid 3 stars. Coulda been 4 if the paranormal element had stayed as solid at the end as it started, and/or Jasper and Eliza had had a little more chemistry.
I really liked the gothic overtones of this book: the setting high on a cliff, isolated in a rundown mansion, with only a few people in the house. Very Beauty and the Beast. The crumbling conservatory full of dead and dying plants was even better. I liked the idea that Eliza bartered her "freedom" to live in the mansion and renovate the conservatory; I loved the ghost she encounters amidst the dead plants; I loved the spooky vibe and the grouchy hot guy to go along with it.
Unfortunately the excellent setup sort of petered out. Jasper oh-so-quickly falls in lust with his live-in-botanist, but it felt very situational and not much like a legitimate connection. Even worse, Eliza's upbringing registered borderline cult-like; her mom literally regularly shows up at her apartment to go through her trash and ensure that she's only using approved products. Violations of her mom's policies result in a week of isolation in a cabin in the wild, "in communion with the Earth". UGH. I mean, there's being earth-friendly and there's being unhinged. I truly don't know how Eliza emerged into functional adulthood, and I can't imagine any prospective partner not having SERIOUS reluctance about taking Eliza on, if it means her mom comes too. But I digress. The promising ghost situation, and the creepy locket, sort of fizzle away. The relationship between Jasper and Eliza is hot, but shallow. I never really felt a true connection nor solid chemistry between them. Honestly I was more curious about Eliza's sister the whole time.
Solid 3 stars. Coulda been 4 if the paranormal element had stayed as solid at the end as it started, and/or Jasper and Eliza had had a little more chemistry.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Wow, what a whirlwind!
First, thank you to NetGalley for the ARC!
I have never read anything from Jeneane O'Riley but have heard about the author from fellow book friends. I read the synopsis of this book and was immediately intrigued by the promise of gothic romance vibes.
This was the epitome of a true gothic, paranormal romance book set in a massive, haunting manor. As a fellow plant lover, I loved the premise of the FMC being a botanist and her vast knowledge of plants. I found myself googling all the different rare species of plants which made reading this book very fun for me.
As for the reclusive, broody MMC, he reminded me so much of Beast from beauty in the beast where everyone has already made up their opinions on him including the FMC before actually getting to know him. The spice in this book is a slow burn but done expertly well. I mean that to say, once the spice hits it bursts into flames! The chemistry between the two was so heavy and intense, it was nice to see them finally give in to it. I liked the aspect of the MMC getting what he wanted, which was the FMC, but also being respectful that she didn't trust him and to come out of her shell on her own.
The relationship Eliza had with her mother was extremely toxic. It made me respect her more when she stuck to her boundaries and distanced herself while also trying to get her mother help, even though her mother didn't take it.
I also loved the aspect of paranormal activity and how the FMC was basically sent on a ghost hunt. My only issue with it, I wanted a little more information as to why Eliza was the only one who could see her.
Overall, this book was a fun read and I definitely recommend it to anybody looking for something different than the norm! I'm looking forward to more of this series!
First, thank you to NetGalley for the ARC!
I have never read anything from Jeneane O'Riley but have heard about the author from fellow book friends. I read the synopsis of this book and was immediately intrigued by the promise of gothic romance vibes.
This was the epitome of a true gothic, paranormal romance book set in a massive, haunting manor. As a fellow plant lover, I loved the premise of the FMC being a botanist and her vast knowledge of plants. I found myself googling all the different rare species of plants which made reading this book very fun for me.
As for the reclusive, broody MMC, he reminded me so much of Beast from beauty in the beast where everyone has already made up their opinions on him including the FMC before actually getting to know him. The spice in this book is a slow burn but done expertly well. I mean that to say, once the spice hits it bursts into flames! The chemistry between the two was so heavy and intense, it was nice to see them finally give in to it. I liked the aspect of the MMC getting what he wanted, which was the FMC, but also being respectful that she didn't trust him and to come out of her shell on her own.
The relationship Eliza had with her mother was extremely toxic. It made me respect her more when she stuck to her boundaries and distanced herself while also trying to get her mother help, even though her mother didn't take it.
I also loved the aspect of paranormal activity and how the FMC was basically sent on a ghost hunt. My only issue with it, I wanted a little more information as to why Eliza was the only one who could see her.
Overall, this book was a fun read and I definitely recommend it to anybody looking for something different than the norm! I'm looking forward to more of this series!
February 2, 2026
3.5 rounded up! A Secret in the Garden is a slow-burn romance full of creeping vines, shattered glass, and long-buried family secrets. Blackwood Manor comes alive in this book—it’s oppressive, haunting, and beautifully decayed—and O’Riley’s atmospheric writing makes it impossible not to sink fully into its setting. The story unfolds at a deliberate pace, letting tension, dread, and desire build gradually rather than rushing toward payoff. It’s moody, gothic, and super intoxicating, and I enjoyed every moment!
Eliza and Jasper are both shaped by deeply troubled pasts, and their connection is equal parts frustrating and magnetic. Eliza’s constant self-doubt can be repetitive, but it also reflects how deeply her trauma runs, making her growth feel earned rather than easy. Jasper remains distant and unreadable for much of the book, which only heightens the impact when his carefully controlled obsession finally surfaces. The slow burn is real—restrained and immensely satisfying once the tension finally snaps!
The gothic mystery and haunting elements are woven seamlessly into the romance, keeping the story engaging even during its quieter moments. The emotional weight of the Blackwood family history sneaks up on you, and by the end, I was far more invested than I expected to be. This isn’t an action-heavy read, but it’s rich in mood, longing, and intensity—perfect for readers craving a dark, atmospheric romance with a lingering sense of unease. Some of the tropes and themes in this book include a genuine slow burn romance, “touch her and die”, a ghostly mystery within a gothic, haunted manor, and a morally gray MMC! If you’re a fan of these tropes, I think you’ll really like this one!
A big thank you to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Bloom Books | Bloom Books for this eARC!
Eliza and Jasper are both shaped by deeply troubled pasts, and their connection is equal parts frustrating and magnetic. Eliza’s constant self-doubt can be repetitive, but it also reflects how deeply her trauma runs, making her growth feel earned rather than easy. Jasper remains distant and unreadable for much of the book, which only heightens the impact when his carefully controlled obsession finally surfaces. The slow burn is real—restrained and immensely satisfying once the tension finally snaps!
The gothic mystery and haunting elements are woven seamlessly into the romance, keeping the story engaging even during its quieter moments. The emotional weight of the Blackwood family history sneaks up on you, and by the end, I was far more invested than I expected to be. This isn’t an action-heavy read, but it’s rich in mood, longing, and intensity—perfect for readers craving a dark, atmospheric romance with a lingering sense of unease. Some of the tropes and themes in this book include a genuine slow burn romance, “touch her and die”, a ghostly mystery within a gothic, haunted manor, and a morally gray MMC! If you’re a fan of these tropes, I think you’ll really like this one!
A big thank you to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Bloom Books | Bloom Books for this eARC!
November 29, 2025
Thank you so much to Netgalley and Bloom for an early copy for an honest review!
Please review all trigger warnings before reading this book! Topics such as narcissistic behavior, abuse, and more are discussed.
3.5/5
When I heard that Jeneane O'Riley was writing a gothic romance book, I was excited to check it out. I wasn't the biggest fan of How Does It Feel however, my friends were so I had some hope going into this.
We follow Eliza as she goes to Blackwood Manor in hopes of restoring their conservatory and navigate through the mysteries that hide behind the gates at Blackwood Manor.
I am an absolute sucker for a gothic romance. I love gothic, paranormal stories. O'Riley did an amazing job tying the paranormal aspect into the story. I do wish that there was more of a focus on the ghost and explaining more of where this came from and how our FMC was able to see her.
As for our MMC, I have such a love/hate relationship with him. The dirty talk was top tier but his thoughts around Eliza were so back and forth in an immature way at first that it's a miracle that I don't have whiplash!
I am excited to see where this series goes! I am a sucker for an interconnected standalone series.
Please review all trigger warnings before reading this book! Topics such as narcissistic behavior, abuse, and more are discussed.
3.5/5
When I heard that Jeneane O'Riley was writing a gothic romance book, I was excited to check it out. I wasn't the biggest fan of How Does It Feel however, my friends were so I had some hope going into this.
We follow Eliza as she goes to Blackwood Manor in hopes of restoring their conservatory and navigate through the mysteries that hide behind the gates at Blackwood Manor.
I am an absolute sucker for a gothic romance. I love gothic, paranormal stories. O'Riley did an amazing job tying the paranormal aspect into the story. I do wish that there was more of a focus on the ghost and explaining more of where this came from and how our FMC was able to see her.
As for our MMC, I have such a love/hate relationship with him. The dirty talk was top tier but his thoughts around Eliza were so back and forth in an immature way at first that it's a miracle that I don't have whiplash!
I am excited to see where this series goes! I am a sucker for an interconnected standalone series.
February 21, 2026
A Secret in the Garden was interesting. I don’t think I really had many expectations for this story, but either way, it still fell flat to me. Between the plot and the characters, I definitely think the characters were the ones that made me dislike this story. I think everything just felt very surface level, yet drawn out way too much.
I do think I enjoyed Eliza’s conservatory renovation. I appreciated her love of plants and how her knowledge of them was extensive. I think she tended to brush things under the rug a bit which irritated me. Something would happen that I was like woah, that needs to be a discussion, and then she would be mad until she got horny and then all is forgotten. Same thing with Jasper, he brushed a lot of things under the rug that I feel like should have been more of a discussion. I think that why this story felt so surface level to me because everything and everyone moved on from everything so quickly.
Anyways the romance was alright. I don’t think I really found myself rooting for the couple as I found them to be pretty boring together. I really wanted to enjoy them more, but overall I had a really tough time wanting to pick up this story. Thanks Negalley and Bloom for an earc. All opinions are my own.
I do think I enjoyed Eliza’s conservatory renovation. I appreciated her love of plants and how her knowledge of them was extensive. I think she tended to brush things under the rug a bit which irritated me. Something would happen that I was like woah, that needs to be a discussion, and then she would be mad until she got horny and then all is forgotten. Same thing with Jasper, he brushed a lot of things under the rug that I feel like should have been more of a discussion. I think that why this story felt so surface level to me because everything and everyone moved on from everything so quickly.
Anyways the romance was alright. I don’t think I really found myself rooting for the couple as I found them to be pretty boring together. I really wanted to enjoy them more, but overall I had a really tough time wanting to pick up this story. Thanks Negalley and Bloom for an earc. All opinions are my own.
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